1960:William
Faulkner accepted an appointment to the University of Virginia
faculty. (Aug. 25)

1973:Flags in the Dust, an uncut version of the novel
Sartoris by William
Faulkner, was published for the first time by Random House, more
than 40 years after the original novel was published. (Aug. 22)

Hoar makes a crackling debut (after the story
collection Body Parts) with this Southern noir thriller about a
decorated Vietnam vet up to no good in Mississippi. Luke Carr is locked
away on the psychiatric ward of a VA hospital in the deep South. The diagnosis
is post-traumatic stress disorder. The therapy consists of a series of
notebooks in which Luke is supposed to tell his story “using colored
pencils—pastels when I am unsure, darker colors for certainties.”
Through these notebooks, Luke records his post-Vietnam downfall, as the
bookish, sensitive vet becomes a gun for hire.

After returning home from his three tours
in Southeast Asia, the solitary, disturbed Luke plots to steal art from
Tom Morris, a wealthy businessman and collector. Along the way he encounters
Morriss wife, Kinnerly, the former love of his life. Predictably,
they resume the affair theyd ended years ago as students at Ole
Miss. Within six weeks, the scheming Kinnerly has Luke convinced that
offing her husband is the only decent thing to do. But soon another local
rich guy, Jeff Ballard, also offers Luke a handsome payment for a hit
on Tom. Luke discovers that Jeff and Kinnerly have recently been lovers
and suspects something fishy, but agrees to take the job anyway. The hit
goes awry when a local farmer catches Luke red-handed and blackmails him.
Soon, Luke has to kill him, too. Seduction, betrayal, revenge and surprises
lurk around the corner as the lovers plot their getaway. The plot makes
rapid switchback turns all the way to the last page. Readers will be rapt.
—Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

AUTHOR EVENTS: Book Signings, Readings, and Appearances

September 4:Square Books, Oxford, Mississippi,
5 p.m.

Dr. Ann Fisher-Wirth, University
of Mississippi professor of English, will read from her collection
of poems entitled Blue Window. For more information, visit
www.squarebooks.com.

If you know of upcoming literary events by or about Mississippi
writers, please let us know by writing us at mwp@olemiss.edu.

ON THE HORIZON

The following events are planned for the coming weeks and months. You
may wish to begin planning now to attend or participate.

October 16, 2003

Elmore Leonard, author of more than
30 novels (including Bandits, Get Shorty, and Tishomingo Blues),
numerous film and television productions, essays and commentaries, will
read and talk about his career. For more information on Leonard, visit
www.elmoreleonard.com/.
Elmore Leonards new book, When the Women Come Out to Dance,
is to be published in November 2003. Johnson Commons Ballroom, The University
of Mississippi, 7 p.m. Sponsored by the John and Renee Grisham
Visiting Writers Series and the Department of English at the University
of Mississippi.

February 12, 2004

Reading and lecture by Richard
Ford. Johnson Commons Ballroom, The University of Mississippi, 7
p.m. Sponsored by the John and Renee Grisham
Visiting Writers Series and the Department of English at the University
of Mississippi.

If you know of additional news items for this newsletter or if you
have suggestions, please write us at mwp@olemiss.edu.

For more information about events in the Oxford and University of Mississippi
community, see the Ole Miss Community Calendar: www.olemiss.edu/calendar/